Gauteng’s best suburbs for food-lovers

Posted On Wednesday, 13 April 2016 15:34 Published by
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Are you a foodie keen to live near your favourite produce markets or a variety of restaurants? If so, fast-paced Gauteng has a surprisingly large number of neighbourhoods that will really appeal to the gourmand in you.

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First and probably best-known among these is the heritage suburb of Parkhurst in Johannesburg, which boasts at least 23 bars, bistros, cafes, diners, grills, fine-dining restaurants and fast-food outlets in its Fourth Avenue precinct.
 
Currently one of the most sought-after suburbs in the city, Parkhurst also offers small stands that foster good security and a neighbourly atmosphere, as well as an outstanding location close to several business nodes, Zoo Lake, Delta Park and many top schools including St Katharine’s and Pridwin, the German school, King David, De La Salle Holy Cross, Greenside High and the Parktown Girls and Parktown Boys high schools as well as The Ridge and St Johns.
 
In addition, the majority of homes here have been upgraded and extended and have great appeal for modern couples and families, and especially those who like to spend time outdoors when they are not sampling the delights of their neighbourhood eateries. It is, however, quite pricey, with prices starting at around R2,3 million for a two bedroom townhouse and ranging up to about R5,5 million for a three bedroom double-storey house.
 
The good news, however, is that the love of good food has spread to several of the neighbouring suburbs, some of which offer much less expensive real estate. These include:
 
*Greenside, which is home to about 30 bars and eateries along Gleneagles and Greenway roads as well as the popular Pirates Grill on Braeside Road. This area is a United Nations of food, with a huge variety of traditional cuisines on offer from Italian and Indian to Lebanese, Chinese, Japanese, Thai and American, and it attracts many young non-residents over weekends.
 
Justin Smith, the Rawson Property Group's franchisee in Greenside, says one and two bedroom apartments in this area start from around R1,3 million, and three bedroom homes on large stands from around R2,6 million. “And at the top end of the market, R5 million will buy a newly-built five-bedroom, four-bathroom house with five living rooms, a double garage and a separate cottage.”
 
*Linden, which features large older homes on very large stands, is currently attracting an increasing number of young families keen on country living who are in turn producing their own food and running creative and artisanal businesses from home. A new market featuring local crafts and food has also been established here and not surprisingly, says local Rawson Property Group franchise Jandri Coetzee, there are more than 20 cafés, traditional restaurants and fine dining establishments in the neighbourhood, many of which make use of “homegrown” produce.
 
Home prices in Linden start at around R750 000 for a two bedroom, one bathroom flat, and at around R1,8 million for a three bedroom house. Developers have also bought and subdivided some of the older stands and there are brand new two bedroom, two bathroom duplexes available for just under R2 million. The top end of this market is around R5 million, which will buy a five-bedroom home on a stand of more than 3400sqm.   
 
On the other hand if what you want is to live close to a really great food market, one of your best real estate options in Johannesburg is Fourways, which hosts a huge and lively Farmers’ Market every Sunday and is also close to Sandton, several high-end shopping venues and more than a dozen of the city’s top private schools.
 
According to Steve Goosen, the Rawson Property Group' franchisee in Fourways, the area also offers a very wide variety of property options to suit all needs and budgets. Prices start at around R650 000 for modern studio apartments and at around R750 000 for two bedroom units.

Two bedroom townhouses are available at prices from around R1 million, and three bedroom freehold homes at prices from R1,7 million. Larger family houses start from around R2 million and range all the way up to around R8,5 million for a palatial six-bedroom home in the exclusive Fourways Gardens estate.

Meanwhile in Tshwane, the top foodie nodes currently are the “Old East” suburbs of Lynnwood, which has more than 70 restaurants within its extensive boundaries, and Menlo Park/Hazelwood, which has more than a dozen popular eateries and also hosts the trendy Hazel Food Market every Saturday.
 
According to local Rawson Property Group franchisee Bertie Lombard, Menlo Park is also attracting the attention of developers at the moment because of its enviable location close to the new Menlyn business centre and to most of the city’s highly-rated public schools, as well as the generous proportions of its original stands.

Consequently, the entry level is now quite high, with prices for both pre-owned three bedroom homes and newly-built two bedroom apartments starting at around R2,2 million, and younger buyers are understandably favouring the many apartment and townhouse complexes in neighbouring Lynnwood instead.

Last modified on Wednesday, 13 April 2016 16:06

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